Mackenzie Lockhart

Mackenzie Lockhart is a Postdoctoral Associate with the Democratic Innovations program at Yale’s Institution for Social and Policy Studies. He received a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego in 2023. His research focuses on elections, representation, and public opinion with particular focus on how voters behave in American elections and consequences for representation.

In the past, he has studied how voters rely on heuristics in primary elections, the impact of  the death of local newspapers on polarization and accountability, and how public opinion incentives constrain elected officials. He has also worked on policy questions focused on how election administrators can best serve voters and build trust in a rapidly changing public opinion environment.